A Unique Picture Book for Kids of all Ages

This is an enchanting love story for kids like no other. I have never read a wonderful picture book like this, and I review a LOT of picture books every year!  It is unique and very special and will be a special treat for anyone who reads it.

How can a stone fall in love with a caterpillar? They seem to be opposites: the stone is hard, the caterpillar is soft. But love knows no boundaries as we all know, and it has no real reasons. Love just seems to happen to us, and then well....we are deeply in love with no turning back. Most times that can be a beautiful thing--but sometimes it causes a lot of hurt and sadness. But it is still better to have loved deeply at least once.

The tale starts when stone falls in love with the caterpillar. The caterpillar and tone hang out a lot until one day the stone has to leave the caterpillar to go to work. This distresses the caterpillar a lot for a long time. She becomes lonely and sad. Then one day instead of waiting for him, she goes up a pine tree and tries to rebuild her life without the stone in it. This causes the stone much distress, and for a long time he calls down for her. But she insists on not joining him anymore. Then one day, the worse thing of all happens. The caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly and flies away never to be seen again.

The stone was very sad for a long time. He thought he would crack under the pressure. But he didn't.  He stayed strong and moved on. The stone even became happy some of the time. But spring was the hardest because this is when all the past memories or his love for the caterpillar flooded his mind and heart.

Dr. Erec Stebbins was born in the Midwest, spent his adolescence in the Deep South, and was educated in the Northeast. He received a degree in physics from Oberlin College in 1992, and a PhD in biochemistry from Cornell University in 1999. Presently, he lives and works in New York City as a scientist and professor in biomedical research at the Rockefeller University.

Rating:  5 Stars

Reviewed by:  Irene S. Roth